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Sunday, October 13, arriving last night in the room, we had a little surprise: all the air conditioners were lit background, as if we were in the middle of summer (it still need waste I mentioned yesterday). it does we will still not prevented sleep well after all cut (I have even used the TV once in the usa: I watched Dr. Doolittle).
However, there are some features that I find quite funny: a phone right next to the toilet (sometimes we want to make a phone call while on the throne) and a sign on the wall saying that the building contains traces of chemicals such as tobacco and it is bad for health. It is as original warning and clear itself if a client falls ill because of it... Anyway, it's time to go get breakfast.

After a good breakfast , it is time to get started: going to... San francisco ! We begin to initiate and... Alarm bus starts up. We stop without doing more than 20m from the motel... go to the motel parking. Mike (our driver) and Mark (our guide) down see what happens. After a while (and the time that Marc called agency they send us a new bus from San Francisco ), they found that the couroie engine was destroyed because of a ball bearing roller tension had broken. Some of the buses have mouths like skunk as what the bus was poorly maintained that it was the fault of the driver and the guide was in on it too. To these people , I would say that removing the engine of a bus overnight parking motel block to change the faulty bearing is absolutely not possible without a garage and a team. Some have not said goodbye or good luck or thank you to Mike , what I found totally ungrateful because he is not there for nothing.
Ultimately we lost an hour to wait for the new bus. Unfortunately we let Mike in the parking lot with its own bus. Courage Mike !
And here we are again on the road, new driver, new bus but, always the same destination. Just before San francisco, we are in a traffic jam, but it runs quite well .

We here to San Francisco. Passing over the Bay Bridge, a bridge 7km long, I can finally see San Francisco and the bay with Alcatraz and in the background... the Golden Gate Bridge!

Noon, we'll eat in Chinatown, it's in San Francisco and the greater community of Chinese in the world outside Asia. Top view of Cablecar, the famous little old tram in San Francisco. And I also see that this is not a legend in San Francisco, the streets are real roller coaster!

We will not leave our luggage at the moment but we will towards the docks and more precisely of Pier 39. Our cruise in the Bay of Frisco will soon begin 45 minutes on the water. Except that Marc has been able to negotiate a cruise 1:30! On the way, still streets that go up and down but a police patrol car, like in the movies!

We are on the docks (the Piers) there is a lot of people and animation, color... and we who have to walk fast to arrive in time for the cruise. Go!

Here we are, to wait the arrival of the ship. On small rafts used to Mooring small boats, seals bask in the sun.

And go! The cruise begins. We just go off seals, I want (probably like dozens of others) to take pictures of these critters as they bask in the sun or playing them:

We walk along the coast to pass under the Golden Gate, the famous bridge in San Francisco. There are a lot of sports to the board from a sort of paragliding and boaters on their boats. It's nice, but there is a lot of wind, the temperature remains pleasant yet. On the coast, we see a large building with a dome: the Palace of fine Arts and theater.

The Golden Gate, the famous bridge in San Francisco : a symbol !
Built between 1933 and 1937 , it remains the longest bridge in the world ( 2'737m long with 1'280m between the two main pillars ) until 1964. Recognizable by its distinctive color (International Orange ) it is part of the 7 wonders of the modern world ( the empire , the panama canal and the tunnel under the sleeves are also parties of the 7 wonders of the modern world ) .
To achieve such a work, it was necessary to use a lot of concrete (about 502'000 tons ) and steel ( 75'293 ​​tons).
The maintenance of the bridge is monumental (as far as its size) and requires constant maintains whatsoever for painting , shock, deformation , cracks, etc... and tolls (free from south to north ( San Francisco to Sausalito ) but paid from north to south ($ 6) ) is not sufficient to pay all the costs. But even if the bridge is negative, it is a very important point of passage for either people or freight .
Being famous and emblematic, he was often seen (especially destroyed !) In movies, cartoons, comics...

Having seen near the bridge if known and be passed below, we return to the prison island ... Alcatraz.
There was wind, suddenly, a lot of sailboats are out (and rightfully so) and we see in Frisco background. Then I take advantage of a lull to try a panoramic city view from the sea


While we sail to Alcatraz, helicopters flight over us training for the 3rd time already. Looks like they patrol over the bay (I promise I wasn't me ! (This was a message from Koala Jones)).

Here we are...

Alcatraz, the Rock, the prison island... This prison has seen and nurtured legends and stories. In operation since 1850, is primarily a military fortress until 1909, then a military prison until 1933. From 1934 until 1964, it is a federal prison of high security and it was during this period that she acquired notoriety prison model where no one can escape. There were 14 attempts to escape, but only 3 out of 36 in total have managed to escape... in theory because they have summers worn as missing by drowning, their bodies never found. Between 1969 and 1971, the buildings are occupied by Native Americans and, since 1973 until today, the site is open to the public as a national park/museum.
For the record, the lighthouse on the island has never ceased to shine once since 1854 except in 1970 during a fire at the home of a lighthouse keeper. And this is where Al Capone was imprisoned.
We are fortunate to do 2 full turns of the island and thus be able to take pictures of the buildings... a lot damaged.

The cruise is about to end, it was... exciting ! For my part anyway. Last 2 pictures in the last section: the city near the Bay Bridge and a little pro-Americanism (rho okay huh, that's the photo).

We're back on dry land ( damn !) And we have free time until dinner. We decide to explore Pier 39 (Fisherman's Warf) with its shops and aquarium. I take this opportunity to shop I was asked (souvenirs to take ) an official store league baseball, a candy store the Candy Baron ( I find candy in all directions and all types : lollipops with a real small scorpion, larvae in chocolate, candy boxes shaped controller nintendo, 50kg bag of candies of all colors (but do not float down... reference !) ), a souvenir shop of all kinds ( and hop, 2 cups flower power ) and many others. Unfortunately no photos of Candy Baron ( I still regret... but I still didn't ate the lollipop ! So... pictures still possible.).
Night falling fast enough, coupled with the wind, it is fast enough cold on the docks. Few stops in stores ( second passage ) to warm up quickly before the appointment for the restaurant. Finally, it's time ! management... Bubba Gump, a restaurant specializing in shrimp, with a beautiful theme vietnam and a man who loved jogging... (for those who have not tilted, the restaurant is based on the movie Forest Gump with all that it includes of ambiance). I must say that the atmosphere of this restaurant was just magical : period costumes, posters and film images, quotes everywhere (full tables, walls, etc...), the list of all the dishes the shrimp Bubba stated in the film, music who probably listened the GI in Vietnam, and even a newspaper's page modified with items from the film to serve as a base sheet of paper... it is simply magical ! Besides employees available and very helpful (fill a glass of coke without having to say is still not commonplace outside a luxury restaurant ) and they gladly discuss with clients. And what about the food ? Those I tasted, it was just nice : not too fat, well seasoned, well cooked actually.

I enjoyed this restaurant with atmosphere and... the ''all'', I went to their shop (they have a sticker on the restaurant) to buy me a pin (which is now proudly attached to my hat).
The bus picks us up and we go to the hotel (the last of our stay) we are not far from downtown, this is perfect! The street view is very nice and we even have the red neon sign flashing side, like in the movies!
The day finishes in around midnight and must sleep because tomorrow we have a lot of surprises and things to do.

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